Blood clots subject of lunch and learn

  Art therapy is being brought to hospice and respite clients by Dare County Arts Council and Dare County Department of Public Health, helping these clients create a legacy for their families to treasure in years to come.

  Through grant funds from the North Carolina Arts Council and Outer Banks Community Foundation, terminally or chronically ill patients have been paired with professional local artists as part of the Legacy Project. Art works created by clients will be on display for community viewing before being returned to family members. The final day of the Legacy Project Art Show will be combined with ”Continuing the Journey,” an annual community memorial event hosted by Dare Home Health and Hospice.

  The use of art therapy with chronic or terminally ill patients has grown in recent years as the therapeutic value has become more widely recognized. The process has been used to help patients deal with pain, stress, or in some cases, addiction. Art therapy is thought to encourage reflection and self-discovery. Although painting, drawing and sculpture are common mediums for art therapy, there are many alternative methods such as music, dance or writing. Art therapy provides the opportunity to explore feelings, thoughts and emotions. It allows patients to share a piece of themselves and their life’s journeys through art.

  As parf of the Legacy Project, three local artists, John de la Vega, Tracy Bell and Fay Davis Edwards, completed hospice volunteer training. They were then matched with Dare Home Health and Hospice and Dare Respite Care clients interested in participating in the project. The artists met with the clients in their homes weekly for 1.5-hour sessions where stories, pictures and life experiences were shared. This information was then used to create a piece of art, either by the client, the artist, a family member or all, depending on the unique situation of that client.

The Legacy Project art work will be on display at the Baum Center this week, through Saturday (June 14-19). The public is also invited to participate in ”Continuing the Jorney” Saturday, June 19, 2-4 p.m., at the Baum Center and Outer Banks Arboretum and Teaching Garden. ”Continuing the Journey” is an annual public memorial service hosted by Dare Home Health and Hospice that provides the opportunity to honor, remember and celebrate the lives of special friends and family members who have passed away. This year, the event is being combined with the Legacy Project Art Show as a celebration of the varied and colorful journeys that are the legacies of those who have gone before us. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the Legacy Project artists and create their own piece of art. This project is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the N.C. Department of Cultural resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

  For more information, contact Hayes Ferguson, social worker, Dare Home Health and Hospice at 252-475-5031.

  As the heat intensifies over the summer months, Dare County Department of Public Health encourages everyone to avoid such health-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke by adopting the following tips:

* Drink more fluids regardless of activity level.

* Do not drink liquids containing alcohol, sugar or caffeine because they will cause you to lose more body fluid.

*  Fans are not generally effective when temperatures exceed 90 degrees.

* Stay indoors in air-conditioned locations such as the public library as much as possible if your home is not air-conditoned.

* Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

* Never leave people or pets in closed, parked vehicles.

* Check regularly on young children, seniors, mentally ill persons and those you know with heart disease and high blood pressure as these groups are at greater risk to suffer heat-related illness.

  Of course some people do not get a choice regarding time spent outdoors. Those individuals who spend a lot of time outdoors should do the following;

* Limit activity to morning and/or evening hours if possible.

* Cut back on exercise and drink two to four glasses of cool liquid per hour.

* Try to rest often in shady areas.

* Wear  a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and put on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective brands say ”broad spectrum” or UVA/UVB protection on their labels).  For more information, contact Laura Willingham, health education supervisor, at 475-5079 or lauraw.@darenc.com.  (From Dare health department)

  AIMEE SHEA, MPH, CSS, RD, LDN, spoke on the relationship between nutrition and cancer at the June 4 Lunch and Learn at the Cancer Resource Center Friday, June 4. She is an outpatient oncology dietitian at the N.C. Cancer Hospital.

Nutrition and cancer relationship explored

  One third of cancers can be prevented by eating healthy food and being physically active, according to Aimee Shea of the N.C. Cancer Hospital who spoke to a Lunch and Learn group June 4.

  Staying on the lower end of the normal weight range is helpful, she added, as  is avoiding weight gain around the waist. A healthy body mass index (BMI) is 18.5-25 which is obtained by dividing the weight in pounds by the height in inches.

  Excess pounds around the waist is particularly harmful, she said. For women, 35 inches is okay; more than that indicates a greater risk for cancers of the colon, esophagus, pancreas, kidney and endometrium, and probably gall bladder. “Fat cells release hormones that stimulate cancer growth,“ Shea said.

  Being physically active is helpful. thirty minutes per day of moderate activity is advised. Brisk walking is good exercise, with a goal of 60 minutes. Other activity recommended is cleaning house, gardening, parking away from stores to walk farther and walking while shopping. “Find something you like, find a buddy to walk with,“ she advised. You don’t have to do your whole work-out at one time, a few minutes several times a day does just as well. Activity strengthens your immune system, and you can eat more. Avoid sugary drinks, limit fruit juices to eight ounces per day, drink water, diet or other low-calorie drinks. She said a Big Mac has 540 calories, a large order of French fries has 570 and five chicken tenders have 630 calories. “Eat mostly foods of plant origin, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans (5-16 servings per day). A serving is two cups of raw vegetables or one-half cup of cooked vegetable. Whole grain breads release energy slowly and help make you feel fuller. Other good sources of nutrition are brown or wild rice, oatmeal, cereal, popcorn, barley, millet and whole grain pasta. You should eat three cups of legumes per week. The “new American plate“ should consist of two- thirds vegetables and fruits, one-third animal protein. A good Internet resource is AIC.org.

  Flaxseed is a good source of omega fatty acids, and the fiber can decrease the risk of colon cancer. You should get less than 18 ounces of red meat per week and stay away from processed meats such as ham, bacon, sausage and pastrami. Get your protein from fish, eggs, dairy and beans. Cook at low temperatures and don’t eat the charred portion of any food. Eat all you want of grilled fruits and vegeteables and limit alcohol intake. Women should have no more than one drink per day, men, two. One drink would be 12 ounces of beer, lager or hard cider or 1.5 ounces of other alcoholic drinks.

  Alcohol and smoking results in a “complete carcinogen,“ Shea said, and alcohol adds a lot of extra calories. Limit your salt or sodium intake. One hundred forty mg. in a serving is low, 600 is high. Use Mrs. Dash in place of salt for seasoning. “Aim to meet nutritional needs through food“ rather than supplements, she said, though pregnant women should have folic acid supplements and many people should get a Vitamin D supplement, especially  seniors. “Older people don’t go out a lot,“ she said, and they may cover up more. High dose beta carotene supplements have been connected to lung cancer, but selenium helps protect men from prostate cancer.

  In answer to a question from the audience, she said Splenda is probably the safest artificial sweetner, but stay away from long-term of these substances. She advised the group away from warming food in plastics. High fructose corn syrup is probably not dangerous as far as cancer is concerned, but it adds calories. She also advised against large amounts of Vitamin E, and said that caffeine is considered okay.

  More information can be obtained from the AICR hotline, 1-800-843-8114.

  Hands of Hope is a community initiative arising from a desire to ensure that no one walks a cancer journey alone. It does not duplicate services but provides support in areas that complement existing community resources.

  Lay navigators are the backbone of this effort. They are volunteer members of your own community who have received special training regarding

* The basic understanding of what cancer is and is not

* How to communicate with the patient and family members

* The need to maintain confidentiality

* The understanding of the availability of community resources.

  How Hands of Hope can help you:

Counseling – They find counseling services for patients, care givers and family members.

Resources – They help you learn more about community resources and how to access them.

Transportation – They help find resources for transportation to medical appointments through the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery Program and other local programs. They can also find transportation to religious services.

Helping Children – They pick children up from school and provide them with a safe environment with people the cancer family knows. This service is available when care givers are away from home taking the patient to treatments and medical visits. They can help with homework, too.

Chores – They find help to do the yard work, run errands, prepare meals and pick up prescriptions.

Respite – They help find time and resources to give care givers time off.

Pet care – They find helping hands to care for animals when you cannot.

Phone calls – They help you keep your family and friends informed when you cannot due to medical emergencies, treatments and follow-up visits.

Social outings – They organize outings should you desire to interact with other families facing the same journey.

Specific Needs – They know that each cancer family has different needs. their goal is to try and help while maintaining your need for confidentiality.

  For information, call Linda Willey, Hands of Hope Coordinator, at 216-9400. (From Hands of Hope)

  The UNC Cancer Network in Dare County is a partnership of the University Cancer Research Fund, the county of Dare and the UNC Cancer Network.

  Residents of Dare County live, work and play along the beautiful Outer Banks seashore. Yet, when someone is diagnosed with cancer, the remote location can sometimes prevent access to specialized cancer care. The goal of the Dare County Outreach Program is to connect patients and families with the resources of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the N.C. Cancer Hospital and other services within the region – wherever the patients choose to receive care.

  The UNC outreach nurse navigator helps patients, their families and their care givers with both medical and nonmedical concerns. The navigator’s goal is to address barriers to care, helping patients and their loved ones with the challenges they face after receiving a diagnosis of cancer. The UNC Nurse Navigator clinic is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To refer a patient or make an appointment, call 252-449-8265.

  The UNC cancer Network is now providing telemedicine consultation in psycho-oncology and clinical genetics. For more information or to schedule a consult, call the above-mentioned number.

  The second opinion consult clinic provides the opportunity for patients to receive second opinions at a location close to home. The clinic is held the first and third Friday of each month. For a schedule of specialists see www.unclineberger.org/darecounty or  call 449-8265 to refer a patient or make an appointment.

  The UNC Cancer Network provides access to other community resources including:

* Bi-monthly community lunch and learn presentations 

* Links to local cancer support resources for financial assistance, transportation and local lodging options

*  Speakers for community groups to address cancer prevention, survivorship and living with cancer

* Provides  cancer education and screenings in collaboration with the Dare County Public Health Department

* Hands of Hope Community Care Team (volunteer program)

  For more information, contact Ireme B. Sellers, RN, administrative director, 449-8265. (From UNC Cancer Network)

  Gov. Beverly Perdue has proclaimed June to be Vector-Borne Disease Awareness Month in North Carolina to highlight the importance of taking preventative measures against ticks and mosquitoes and the diseases they carry.

  “With the numerous opportunities we have in Dare County to engage in outdoor activities, we also have the increased potential for exposure to disease-carrying vectors such as ticks and mosquitoes,“ said Anne Thomas, Dare County health director. Thomas recommends that residents and visitors take preventative measures to protect themselves, their homes and gardens and stresses the importance of repellent use.

  “Pets like ticks and mosquitoes are more than nuisances; they also carry diseases that can make people seriously ill. It is important for people to know the measures they can take to prevent tick and mosquito bites,“ added Barbara Maher, Dare County Department of Public Health communicable disease nurse. Maher added that insect repellent is useful to deflect mosquitoes and ticks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends several repellents against mosquitoes – DEET, picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus. According to the CDC, oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of three. Repellents containing permethrin provide excellent protection against ticks but may only be used on clothing, not on the skin. Consumers should look for products that contain the CDC-recommended ingredients and should read and follow all label instructions.

  Exposure to both mosquitoes and ticks also can be limited by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pangs and socks. People  should also check themselves and their families for ticks when they are in tick-prone areas. Limiting outdoor activity during dawn and dusk when mosquito activity is high is also recommended.

  Mosquito-borne illnesses can be a concern in North Carolina. Mosquitoes are capable of carrying a number of anthropod-borne viruses. The two mosquito-borne viruses that are of concern in Dare County are eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV). Although there is no human vaccine against either EEE or WNV, there is an equine vaccine available for both. La Crosse virus is the most common mosquito-borne illness but is found mostly in western North Carolina.

  For additional information on mosquities and ticks, visit these public health web sites: www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/phpm, www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/arbovirus and www.epi.state.nc.use/epi/tickor contact Barbara Maher at the Dare County Department of Public Health at 252-475-5003. (From Dare County Department of Public Health)